Keziah George

Prayas-TISS

About Prayas is a social work demonstration project of the CCJ, TISS, established in 1990. Prayas's focus is on service delivery, networking, training, research and documentation, and policy change with respect to the custodial/institutional rights and rehabilitation of socio-economically vulnerable individuals and groups. To this end, permission to visit criminal justice or custodial institutions and interact with persons detained or confined in police stations, prisons and government residential institutions in Maharashtra and Gujarat has been obtained from the Departments of Prisons and Women and Child Development. Prayas's aim is to help youth and women to lead violence-free lives, to assert their claim in society, find a niche for themselves in society through healthy livelihoods and relationships, and break cycles of disadvantage that could get carried across their lives and to the next generation. Thus, Prayas works towards separating youth and women from crime, commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), and extreme vulnerabilities like destitution and exploitation that can lead people to crime and victimization. Over the last 30 years, it has reached out to over 40,000 beneficiaries. Vision Assert and include into the broader welfare agenda, the rights of persons and groups affected by the criminal justice system towards their enhanced access to information, education, training, health, opportunities for livelihood and leading life in a safe and healthy environment; thereby channelizing significant human resource to contribute to a developing economy. Mission To enhance knowledge and influence policy and process of criminal justice and allied systems in India, with specific reference to custodialised and institutionalized individuals and groups who are socio-economically vulnerable, are excluded from mainstream public facilities and welfare, and those who are at greater risk of being criminalised, or exposed to trafficking for sexual exploitation.